Washing tank for photographic films



Jan.. 25, 1949. F. WQ DEERFIELD 2,460,217

WASHING TANK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed Sept. 19, 1944 /7250 W DEeF/D.

Patented Jan. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE 2,460,217 WASHING TANK FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS Fred W. Deeriield. Baltimore, Md. Application September 19, 1944, Serial No. 554,776

3 Claims. 1

This invention refers to photographing hn treatment and more particularly to tank-s for their development. It has among its objects to provide a washing tank for photographic nlm especially those of the X-ray type that 'will efiectively clean oi the substances yand produce the eiects for which washing thereof is intended. Another object is to have the structure made so that it will project cleaning water against the lm completely over its front and rear area at an angle conducive to the best results. A further object is to support the iilms in a position that will enable them to drain off quickly and to vibrate them to shake off the matter to be removed. l

A further object is to provide means lor oscile lating the film up and down and sidewise to prevent the stream of liquid from pitting or marking the nlm during the washing process.

A further object is to reduce the time required for washing the lm.

Other objects will become apparent -a-s the invention is more fully set forth.

In this invention the washing tank is made to support films in oscillating frames in a vertical position, and project Water in streams in an angularly and downward direction, instead of with the iilms lying in running water of the tank in the conventional horizontal method.

In order to 'illustrate a form of this invention, reference is made to the attached speciiication and the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with cover removed, of a nlm washing tank embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side View of Figure 1 in section taken along the line 2 2;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, with cover in position, and

Figure 4 is a detail section of the tank and its mechanism for oscillating the film frames of the invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction indicated, I represents a watertight tank supported on legs 2, and having its bottom portion 3 angularly planed towards the middle, -to provide drain-age therefor. Water connections 4 are provided for supplying water under pressure to the helically formed auxiliary reservoirs 5 joined together by straps 21 and having legs 28 inside the tank. These reservoirs are arranged in a vertical position parallel to one another yand perforated with orifices 6 adapted to squirt or spray the water from them in an angularly downward direction as indicated in Figure 2. An outlet connection 'i is used for emptying the tank from the bottom portion 3. A valve S and control mechanism 9 having a foot pedal 29 and catch 2i are used for controlling the water to the tank. The reservoirs 5 have a helical rectangular form which enables the water from the orices to impinge water all over the lms i il and thereby positively detach and wash off the materials to be removed or diluted by the washing process. The films it are clipped in lm holders il vertically and parallel to the reservoirs so as to be in the path of the water coming from the orices. These film holders Il are made with a truss 20 resting on cam members i2 rotated and supported on shafts i3. These shafts are rotated through the revolving of waterwheels i4 which are .attached to them securely. The water wheels are in casings i5 mounted on the reservoirs 5 selected therefor and .are operated by the water under pressure coming through the spouts I8. Outlets il allow the water used in the water wheels to escape to the tank and drain off with the other water used therein.

The operation of the device is relatively simple. The lms are placed in the lm holders H and clipped therein so they will be flat. The trusses of the film holders are then placed on the cam members and in position against them. The film holders are position-ed in the tank l between the reservoirs 5 and with the lms in line with the orices 6. The water l 8 under pressure is allowed to ilow into the reservoirs. This starts the water wheels i4, turns the shafts i 3, revolves the cams which in `turn raises and lowers the lm holders with the films in them. The raising and lowering of the lm holders and lms occurs in this instance during every revolution. The water from the orices E squirting out `at or spray- 'ing the lms in a downward direction detaches the waste material and flows it downwardly. up and down and cross wise of them and also brings different portions in front of the streams of water. This produces a Very effective washing action without pitting or marking the lms. The water reaches the bottom portion 3 of the tank I and passes out through the outlet l'. This process is continued until the films are properly washed ventional manner.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the speciiications, it is not desired to limit this application for a patent to this particular form or in any other almaar? way otherwise than limited by the scope of the appended claims thereof, as it is appreciated that' tank, water feeding means having holes for di- E recting streams of water in a downwardly and outwardly direction from the face of said water `feeding means, cam means mounted in said tank, nlm holder supporting means positioned on said cams and rotated in an up and down and cross Wise manner in the path of water from said water feeding means, and means for controlling the amount of water contacting the face of said X-ray film in a downwardly and outwardly manu ner. Y

Y2. A tank for washingX-ray films comprising in combination, a tank, removable film holders mounted in said tank, reservoir units supported in said tank, said reservoirs having holes positioned in helical form in the walls and directed downwardly and outwardly, a plurality oi shafts positioned in said tank, means for rotating said shafts, cams mounted on and rotated by said shafts, trusses attached to said film holders and adapted to rest on said cams and be oscillated thereby, means for controlling the amount oi' Washing medium entering the reservoirs, and means for controlling the speed of said shafts and the movement of a'film in an up and down and crosswise manner in relation to the holes in the walls of said reservoirs.

3. A tank for Washing X-ray films comprising in combination, a tank, removable lm holders mounted in said tank, reservoir units supported in said tank, said reservoirs having holes positioned in helical form in the walls and directed down- Wardiy and outwardly, a plurality o shafts having paddle wheels projecting within said reservoirs and rotated by the flow of Washing medium through said reservoirs, cams mounted on and rotated by said shafts, trusses attachedto said film holders and adapted to rest on said cams and be oscillated thereby, and means for controlling the amount of a Washing medium entering the reservoirs and thereby controlling the speed with which a lm is moved in an up, down and crosswise manner in relation to the holes in the walls of said reservoirs.

FRED W. DEERFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are o record in the oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date 331,668 Witmer Dec. 1, 1885 431,129 Morris July 1, 189i) 537,968 Dorticusv Apr. 23, 1895 784,861 Johnson Mar. 14, 1905 1,136,795 Nichois Apr. 20, 1915 1,265,291 Bergman May 7, 1918 1,470,188 Pryde Oct. 9, 1923 1,802,192 Caps Apr. 21, 1931 2,105,165 Schnelz Jan. 1l, 1933 2,259,259 Mace Oct. 14, 1941 2,327,733 Moore Aug. 24, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 78,375 Germany Dec. 6, 1894 

